S.J. men linked to Mexican drug cartel

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury has indicted three San Joaquin County men suspected in a drug trafficking ring connected to a Mexican cartel.

The Record

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury has indicted three San Joaquin County men suspected in a drug trafficking ring connected to a Mexican cartel.

Gerardo Barraza, 19, of Stockton, Martin Rubio, 49, of Stockton, and Francisco Felix, 40, of Mountain House were named in the 32-count indictment returned by the jury on Thursday.

The Central Valley-based trafficking group was tied to the Sinaloa drug cartel, transporting "large" amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine into the U.S., authorities said they learned over a yearlong investigation.

Throughout the operation, agents seized more than 70 pounds of methamphetamine, about three pounds of high-grade marijuana, three assault-style rifles, a .50 caliber handgun and two other weapons.

Investigators also discovered "numerous" marijuana grow operations in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties that were connected to the drug ring.

"Through our joint enforcement efforts, we've dismantled a criminal organization that posed a serious public safety threat, as evidenced by the weapons and drugs seized during the course of this case," Dan Lane, assistant special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Sacramento, said in a written statement. "The arrests and resulting indictments in this investigation have disrupted a potentially deadly supply chain and prevented an untold volume of dangerous drugs from reaching our streets."